Hawaii's Small Donor Matching Program FAQs

What is Small Donor Matching (Public Financing)?

Small Donor Matching, also known as "Fair Elections" or "Public Financing" is a voluntary program, where candidates running for elective office are awarded a competitive amount of money by the state to run a competitive campaign. Candidates must qualify for this program by meeting state requirements and agreeing to follow certain restrictions and spending limits. In order to qualify for this program, the candidate must raise small amounts of money, which the state will then match. Candidates who qualify and are awarded Small Donor Matching funds can’t accept large sums of contributions from special interests. By taking part in the program, candidates can spend less time fundraising and more time on policy.

The Hawaii Election Campaign Fund (HECF) which was created during the 1978 Constitutional Convention as Article II, Section 5 of the Hawaii State Constitution to “establish a campaign fund to be used for partial public financing of campaigns of the State and its political subdivisions.” In recent years, the State Legislature altered the purpose of HECF so that the Campaign Spending Commission’s general operating expenses are also taken from this fund.

The HECF is funded by Hawaii tax payers who select the “yes” option on their state tax return. This does not affect one’s income tax refund, but instead allocates $3 from the general fund to the HECF.

Who can qualify?

State candidates for the offices of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, the state Legislature, and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs[1] “may apply for public funds provided they first raise enough individual donations of $100 or less. Gubernatorial candidates must raise $100,000 in qualifying donations. Candidates for lieutenant governor must raise $50,000, those for state senate must raise $2,500, and those for state house must raise $1,500. Those that apply for public funds must agree to the state expenditure limits specific to each office, and may then be granted a percentage of public funds. The governor and lieutenant governor candidates may receive up to 10% of their expenditure limits in public funds, and candidates for state legislature may receive up to 15% of their expenditure limits in public funds.”[2]

Featured Campaigns

Mark “Yes” for the Hawaii Election Campaign Fund on your state income tax return. By marking the $3 “Yes” check box for the Hawaii Election Campaign Fund, you support the work of the Hawaii Campaign Spending Commission and Hawaii's Small Donor Matching Program.
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[1] "PUBLIC FINANCING OF CAMPAIGNS: AN OVERVIEW." National Conference of State Legislatures. January 23, 2013. Accessed February 12, 2015. http://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/public-financing-of-campaigns-overview.aspx.